The Malawi Men’s National Netball Team’s first-ever appearance at the Africa Netball Cup ended in disappointment due to lack of structures and tournaments in domestic netball, Malawi News Sport can reveal.
The senior men’s side, dubbed the Kings, anchored the eight-team competition when the country hosted the competition at Griffin Saenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe in December last year.
Malawi News Sport has also established that the Kings were made of players from two teams—Akabawi, a Blantyre-based men’s netball side, and Libomba, a Lilongwe-based netball team.
In our investigation, we also noted that the two teams participate in social matches either against themselves or women’s netball sides as there are no competitive leagues or tournaments to cater for the men’s sport in the country.
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Two members of the senior men’s side, who did not want to be mentioned, faulted the authorities for failing to set up proper structures for men’s netball.
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“Men’s netball has been there for years but the authorities do not show much effort to develop the game. Akabawi have been playing with the Queens for over two decades but, during all those years, nothing serious has been done to promote the men’s game. The only thing recognisable is the Malawi’s men’s participation in the Africa Cup games,” the player said.
His fellow player said men’s netball deserved support as well because it had the potential to win medals at international level.
“Perhaps we can agree that in Malawi, men’s netball is like a social activity because we do not have steady structures such as proper executive committees, at national or regional level, to govern the sport.
“We cannot fault only the current regime but previous administrators too for failure to introduce structures for developing the sport. What we have are just simple social arrangements to have matches played. In 2024, we wanted to travel to Namibia for the Africa Netball Cup but we failed to raise funds,” he said.
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The two players hailed some individuals, including prominent netball figures [names withheld], for supporting men’s netball in various ways.
“Had it not been for them, we could not have had the two men’s netball teams surviving. We also need to appreciate that the men’s team had to participate in the Africa Netball Cup because it was mandatory for the hosting nation.
“Otherwise, we could not have participated in the games due to lack of willpower. Last time we failed to travel to Namibia as the authorities failed to help us raise money,” he said.
Kings National Netball Team Coach Garvey Nyondo said following the team’s poor showing at the continental showpiece, they had requested Nam, through the Technical Director’s office, to establish structures.
“It is true that the men’s national netball team was drawn from two teams, namely Libomba and Akabawi. These are teams that are active and participate in matches. Rather than dwelling on our failure during our debut [international tournament], we submitted a report to Nam, through the TD’s office, requesting for structures to develop the men’s game,” he said.
Nam TD Joseph Mazaza said the Kings’ participation in the Africa Netball Cup 2025 was a deliberate and strategic step, driven by World Netball’s 2022 push for all member nations to actively introduce and develop men’s netball.
“Many countries have already advanced their men’s programmes and we, as Nam, needed to accelerate our involvement to remain aligned with global standards. This continental exposure was essential for building familiarity and experience within the men’s segment among Malawian players, coaches, and fans.
“Importantly, World Netball has now confirmed plans for the inaugural Men’s Netball World Cup. So, competing in the Africa Netball Cup provided us with a vital platform to prepare our team and raise awareness domestically, ensuring that Malawi is well-positioned for future international opportunities in this expanding area of the netball sport,” Mazaza said.
Mazaza said they fully supported the proposal from the Kings’ coach to establish regional and national leagues for men’s netball, as it directly aligns with Nam’s strategic priorities for strengthening and expanding the men’s game in Malawi.
“Nam remains fully committed to growing men’s netball across the country. We have actively been seeking sponsorship to launch a dedicated men’s national cup and we hope to deliver a competitive tournament for our male players this year.
“A forward-thinking sponsor partnering with Nam for Men’s Netball National Cup at this stage would gain a significant first-mover advantage. This emerging segment offers excellent opportunities to elevate brand visibility,” he said.
Gender activist Emma Kaliya said cultural beliefs were preventing the growth of different sporting disciplines including men’s netball.
“For me, if you go back to history, even for the women to enter into the space of football, it took a very long time. You know, people are not sure and do not understand that why should men, play netball which is associated with women.
“It is an issue that becomes a block. In terms of the cultural and understanding, people do not understand why they should be supporting netball for men, when there is already one for women, which has been a wrong thought,” Kaliya said.
She asked men who are in forefront spearheading men’s netball to work jointly with Nam to promote the sport.
“They need to put up a strategy that would attract investors into netball for men, because people may not have the idea or the desire to be supporting that sector when there’s already another sector that they have been supporting all the time.
“You know, netball has been known before women for all the years, all the time immemorial. So, I think this is an area where we need a lot of publicity,” she said.
